Philosophy & Curriculum

The CDC has a three-part mission: service to children and families, professional preparation, and generating research that informs practice. Its theoretical base is social constructivism. In other words, we believe that knowledge is constructed rather than acquired through an active process of exploring, investigating, and playing. The curriculum, which is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, is built upon the notion that every child is capable and competent.   Children are provided with many opportunities to express themselves through a variety of materials and experiences such as those involving drawing, painting, clay, drama, music, and movement.

Our school community values individual identity, cultural, socioeconomic, and linguistic diversity, the development of strong relationships among individuals, listening and sharing, inquiry and reflection, and collaboration. We think of our school as a system of ever-changing relationships that sustains the reflective and analytical work of the group and generates new possibilities for growth in the organization. We believe that children, their teachers and their families, and the pre-service and in-service teachers are at the center of the educational experience.  

Our approach is based on the following premises:

• Children are full of potential, have many ideas and theories, and an eagerness to learn.
• Knowledge is constructed rather than acquired through an active process of exploring, investigating, and playing.
• The environment promotes interaction and cooperation.
• Joyful learning is promoted daily.
• Listening is a central role of the adult. Listening is reflected in the on-going documentation and study of children's ideas and investigations.
• Respect is accorded to all members of the community through encouraging and understanding multiple points of view.
• Parents are viewed as partners with teachers.
• Communication is a reciprocal process involving the home and the school.

Mission Statement:

The mission of the KSU Child Development Center is to enable all children and families to experience exemplary early education.

The mission priorities are to:

• Offer an education based on relationships to children of university families (students, staff and faculty).
  
• Include parents as full partners in their children's education
• Support the development of teachers who are reflective, passionate about their work, grounded in theory and the content of the curriculum, researchers of their own practice, and above all, able to develop meaningful relationships with children and families.
• Engage in on-going inquiry into our own practices.
• Communicate our work to our professional and local communities.
• Advocate for high quality services for children and families.

Criteria for admission are designed to insure a diverse group of children.